The Open Bell — Ep. 039 — 14 Aug 2026

Today on The Open Bell: Inflation came in cooler in July and the White House is taking a bow, but real wages are still negative, meaning prices are still rising faster than most people's pay, and that's been true every single month this year. Japan's wholesale prices have risen for five months straight and a rate hike in September is now almost a certainty, which sounds like someone else's problem until you realise the yen's weakness is quietly reshaping what everything from electronics to car parts costs you. Britain's economy grew in the second quarter, which is technically good news, but the IMF and OECD both cut the UK's outlook by more than any other wealthy country this week, and they named the reason: the UK is more exposed to the Middle East energy shock than almost anywhere else in the developed world. If today's episode helped you cut through the noise, a quick five-star rating genuinely helps other people find the show. Hosted by Alex Monroe. New episodes every weekday morning at theopenbell.co Not investment advice. For informational purposes only. --- Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:12 US CPI Cools to 3.4% in July, But Real Wages Still Negative 03:09 Japan Producer Prices Hold at 7.2%, BOJ September Hike Hits 05:40 UK Q2 GDP Grows 0.4% but Slows From Q1; June Surprise Lifts 07:27 Closing thoughtsSupport the show